Seminoles Wrap Up Day Two of Spring Practice

Tallahassee, FL - After shaking off a few cobwebs and taking a day off to evaluate and let day one sync in, Florida State took the football practice field once again Wednesday for its second spring practice over on the intramural fields across from Doak Campbell Stadium.

“Intensity level was good,” FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “We keep executing better, putting in new things, a lot of new guys out there. I like the focus as far as getting to what we had to do. Tempo was better and we moved around good.”

For the second straight practice, the Seminoles worked in shorts and helmets for nearly 2 ½ hours – this time looking a little more crisp and practicing with a better tempo than Monday’s first practice which Fisher said lacked.

More of FSU’s spring storylines continued to shape themselves Wednesday from the battle for the No. 2 quarterback job to depth in the secondary and at linebacker.

With ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Xavier Rhodes and safety Nick Moody out for the spring, the FSU secondary is working in some players at new positions as well as developing new faces. Rising senior Mike Harris, who played mostly as the nickelback in 2010, is manning the boundary corner spot held by Rhodes. Second-year cornerback Lamarcus Joyner has made the switch to safety. Redshirt junior Avis Commack is back from a season-ending injury and has impressed.

“Mike and Greg Reid played really well today. I noticed those two. I mean you give up a play or two but you’re going to do that in one-on-one, but I noticed those two. I thought they did a pretty good job.”

Also doing a pretty good job on the field Wednesday were the linebackers – another area of focus for the spring for the Seminoles. With the departures of seniors and starters Mister Alexander and Kendall Smith, the Seminoles find themselves looking to fill two slots alongside returning starter Nigel Bradham. Vince Williams played in 11 games for the Noles in 2010 and registered 17 tackles. He and Bradham are the two most experienced in the group.

“We got a lot of guys in there rotating,” Fisher said. “We got a couple of walk-ons in there. We got 1’s and 3’s and 2s and 4s on the field. We got Jeff {Luc} out, but Nigel and those guys are running it. Christian Jones looks really good. Vince has looked good. All those guys, I’ve thought have done a nice job.”

Lumped in with the development of depth in the secondary and at linebacker this spring is the quarterback position. With EJ Manuel taking over for Christian Ponder, redshirt freshman Clint Trickett and sophomore Will Secord are trying to stake their claim to the No. 2 QB spot.

“We’re competing right now,” Trickett said. “I look at it as competing against the defense; if you’re doing good against the defense then you’re doing good against the other guys. I don’t really look at it as me and Will or me and EJ competing, just as trying to do your best against the defense.”

“You definitely want one of them to jump out there,” Fisher said. “I’d look to see both of them really so you can say you have two guys who can play, but definitely one of them needs because you’re one injury away from playing.”

Florida State returns to the practice field on Wednesday and Thursday. The Seminoles are scheduled for their first day of full pads Saturday and not a scrimmage. FSU’s first scrimmage will be Saturday, Apr. 2. All practices are closed to the public. Fans can begin counting down to the SunTrust Spring Football Weekend Presented By Kia Autosport which will be capped off with the Annual Garnet and Gold Spring football game at 4 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium. The game will be carried on ESPN3.com and replayed on ESPNU.

Season tickets are available now by visiting Seminoles.com or by calling the Florida State Ticket Office at 1-888-FSU-NOLE. Single game tickets will go on sale to the general public June 1; however a single game sale is not anticipated for either the Oklahoma and Miami home games.

SPURLOCK RETURNS

Junior offensive lineman David Spurlock returned to practice this week after missing the second half of the season recovering from injury. Spurlock, FSU’s starting right guard the last couple of seasons finds himself competing with sophomore-to-be Bryan Stork for the starting center job. Here’s what he had to say Wednesday:

On what it feels like to be cleared for practice…

“I knew I was going to get cleared, but I guess it was reassuring to know that I would be cleared and to know that I would get to (play) in the spring.”

On moving to center from guard on the line…

“Well it came out with (Ryan McMahon) leaving, and we really didn’t have a center. I guess (Coach Trickett) really wanted an interior guy, me and Stork are both at center right now trying to figure out pretty much who’s better and who (Coach Trickett) thinks is good and can actually do it. I know it can be hard taking over the spot from McMahon, but I think one of us can be pretty good at it.”

“It’s a whole different game. I found out yesterday that center is a different monster to try to overcome and everything, but with Coach Trickett he makes it easy for you. He makes it doable.”

On the departure of veteran linemen Ryan McMahon and Rodney Hudson…

“It’s been crazy just not looking over and seeing the same people. I mean it might be impossible to fill their shoes. I don’t think people really know how good they really were, but it’s going to be crazy without them.”

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